11021 Background: Advancing the fight against cancer involves many types of research across different disciplines and professions, from PhD-trained scientists to medical oncology physicians. The IOYIF is a competitive academic research program where oncology junior faculty, clinical and post-doctoral fellows who are pursuing a career in academic research in IO are invited to submit an abstract of their unpublished, original research to a panel of expert judges for assessment. Methods: Performance and confidence change were objectively assessed by analyzing pre- and post-test results before and after the presentation of research. Statistical testing between pre- and post-participation were conducted via chi square analysis with a priori significance set at 0.05. Results: Participants experienced an improvement in mean abstract score following participation in the forum. The mean abstract score improvement was statistically significant for All Participants ( P< 0.001) and all sub-groups ( P< 0.001), with the sole exception of Clinician Scientists. Overall, PhD/Postdoctoral Research participants demonstrated the most improvement. The mean abstract score improvement was statistically significant for those who attended presentation coaching ( P< 0.001) as well as for those that did not ( P= 0.001); the magnitude of improvement was greater among those who attended coaching. Participant self-reported mean confidence scores increased with statistical significance from pre- to post-participation in the forum ( P< 0.001); this increase was noted across all participants and all sub-groups, and was observed in relation to both presentation skills and research defense. Young Investigators reported that lack of experience with grant writing is the most significant barrier they face to obtaining grant funding; they also listed lack of mentorship/guidance in publishing as a prominent barrier. Conclusions: This analysis demonstrates that an IO research forum designed for young investigators can improve the performance and confidence of these scientists. These findings highlight the robust, multifaceted impact of the IOYIF on advancing the professional development of the next generation of IO researchers. Identification of barriers demonstrates the tangible value of the IOYIF in providing needed mentorship to further research efforts, deliver axioms of grant writing guidance, and bridge the gap young researchers face in obtaining funding and publishing their work.
